Teenagers to discuss rock music videos

Press, 1 September 1982, Page 19

Teenagers to discuss rock music videos

“Sex, drugs and rock n roll" is a standard tongue-in-cheek response from young people asked about their interests. In fact the answers may not be far from the truth, says TVNZ. Even if young people are not actively involved in these activities, most seem keen at least to talk about them. “The Herd." which will return in a new series on Sunday on One, at 6 p.m., aims to “take the lid off the issues affecting young people today.” and no subject is too controversial for the programme to tackle. Each week the host, lan Grant, will get together with a group of high school students to draw from them their views on a given theme. It is his job to encourage the discussion and give the Christian viewpoint, “but basically he’s there to listen to what the kids are saying." says the programme’s producer. Brian McDonald. “The Herd" is the only programme on television that directly relates to teenagers and the things that are important to them. All other programmes are 'either presented by adults, or geared towards a younger age group. “In ‘The Herd’ we focus on the kids themselves." says McDonald. "They do most of the talking."

This week’s programme. “The Beat Goes On." looks at rock music and its effects on young people, and in particular the influence of the video clips that accompany more

and more of the music they hear.

"A lot of effort is going into the visual treatment of songs." McDonald says, "and it seems that the more bizarre they are the better they sell. The result is that a lot ’of kids now will buy records only when they know what the songs look like." On a large video projector screen in the studio, the Herd will be shown clips from groups or individuals known for their particularly zany stage acts — the Plasmatix, reknowned for blowing up cars on stage. Kiss. Mi-Sex, Adam and the Ants, the Rolling Stones and Frank Zappa.

They will also be shown clips of groups whose songs make identifiable social statements, for example Pink Floyd with "Brick In The Wall," the Sex Pistols with "Anarchy in the U.K.," and the Doors with their song. "Unknown Soldier."

“The kids will comment on what they have seen and the question will be asked — can they sort out the good from the'bad and how much does it really affect them?” says McDonald. “What should cofne out of the programme is the need to be discerning. The fact that you can have good music with a bad message, bad music with a good message. bad music with a bad message and good music with a good message. “But in fact, with a programme like this you never know what is going to happen ...” The second programme

will look at the qualities which make up a perfect person and whether in fact thai person could exist, while the third will delve into differing values and responsibility. Programme four. "Play it b.v the Book." will look at rules for living and bring forward controversial moral issues such as euthanasia, abortion, racism and drugs. Death will compete with sex as the subject young people most want to talk about, and programme five will question whether the past generation have been so obsessed with telling kids the facts of life that they neglected to tell them the facts of death.

The final programme. “To Booze or not to Booze." will look at alcohbl as the lubricant that makes life bearable and as a sophisticated saboteur that is destroying our society.

Though "The Herd” gets to the centre of some serious subjects, the programmes will have their lighter moments as well.